Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
03/23/2012 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Aleutian Region School District | |
| HB330 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 330 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 330 - STATE EDUCATION STANDARDS
8:39:44 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 330, "An Act establishing a Joint Legislative
Task Force on Education Standards; requiring the Department of
Labor and Workforce Development to provide information and
resources to the task force; establishing state education
standards; amending the authority of the Department of Education
and Early Development to adopt education standards; and
providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was the
proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 330, Version 27-
LS1100\E, Mischel, 3/20/12, which had been adopted as the work
draft on 3/21/12.]
8:40:08 AM
MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early
Development (EED), after assuring the committee that the
forthcoming proposed education standards the state has been
working on for the past two years are not connected to the
federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, expressed
disfavor with HB 330's proposed legislative finding - paragraph
(2), Section 1, Version E - that states education standards are
developed only for those who earn a four-year college degree,
offering his belief that that statement isn't true. He opined
that the state's forthcoming proposed education standards would
instead improve the situation for all students.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY, in response to questions, offered his
belief that the state's existing education standards already
address the skills necessary to be an entrepreneur; that any
specific curriculum for teaching students how to start their own
business would best be developed at the local level; and that
establishing separate education "tracks" - [one for only those
students pursuing college, and one for all other students] - as
has been done successfully elsewhere, might not be the best
approach in Alaska because the state's low student-enrollment
numbers - and the resulting limitation on resources - could
force some schools to focus only on one track, ultimately
limiting opportunities for students.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed out that education standards
should be consistent for all students regardless of the number
of education tracks being offered.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY agreed.
CHAIR DICK, speaking as the sponsor of HB 330, expressed
interest in having the state's education standards be developed
with input from people other than educators.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY - referring to the provisions of HB 330
which stipulate that the proposed Joint Legislative Task Force
on Sustainable Education ("Task Force") shall submit a report
and proposed legislation to the legislature by September 30,
2013, and that the state Board of Education and Early
Development ("Board") shall adopt education standards only after
they have been vetted in a process to be created by the proposed
Task Force - expressed concern that those provisions could
potentially delay [the adoption of] "higher-level" education
standards for several years, offering his belief that to teach
only to existing standards in the meantime won't serve the
students.
CHAIR DICK pointed out, though, that having or not having new
education standards in place won't limit what can be taught in
Alaska's schools - standards only speak to what students shall
be tested on.
8:54:28 AM
ANNETTE KREITZER, Staff, Representative Alan Dick, Alaska State
Legislature, mentioned that she'd discussed Commissioner
Hanley's concern with the bill drafter, who agrees with her that
under HB 330, the legislature would not be involved with the
creation of the vetting process for proposed education
standards, and thus could not [inadvertently, either through
action or inaction,] delay adoption of such standards.
Furthermore, HB 330 contains a sunset date of July 1, 2014, so,
ultimately, the bill's requirements are not going to limit the
[Board] with regard to which particular education standards it
adopts.
CHAIR DICK, in response to comments and questions, reiterated
that having education standards in place won't limit what can be
taught in Alaska's schools, merely what students shall
ultimately be tested on.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY, in response to further comments and
questions, pointed out that education standards merely provide a
focus for teachers - the standards themselves teach nothing.
Ultimately it is up to everyone in the community, taking all
issues into consideration, to point students in the right
direction with regard to specific curriculum.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON - expressing favor with the concept of
having a task force such as the one HB 330 provides for - asked
that information regarding the fiscal impact of adopting
education standards be provided to the committee.
9:07:55 AM
JEAN MISCHEL, Attorney, Legislative Legal Counsel, Legislative
Legal and Research Services, Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA),
in response to comments and questions, and noting that HB 330 is
temporary and would only change uncodified law, concurred that
its proposed changes would be repealed on July 1, 2014; that
prior to that sunset date, the Board must rely upon the Task
Force's forthcoming vetting process; that nothing in the bill
changes statute or the Board's existing statutory authority to
adopt performance standards; and that in terms of adopting
standards once the provisions of HB 330 sunset, the Board could
simply resume where it left off prior to the establishment of
the Task Force. She noted, though, that a potential separation
of powers issue does arise with HB 330's proposed limitation on
the Board's executive functions, but surmised that it might not
be a problem, since the proposed Task Force is advisory in
nature and nothing in the bill requires the Board to adopt
standards developed by a legislative body such as the Task
Force.
CHAIR DICK opined that the issues discussed demonstrate the need
for a task force that involves stakeholders other than
educators.
CHAIR DICK then closed public testimony on HB 330.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON ventured that HB 330's proposed
legislative finding - paragraph (1), Section 1, Version E -
stating that education funding support is increasing, might be
better changed so as to describe what has occurred in the past,
rather than predicting what will occur in the future; proffered
that the aforementioned legislative finding that's of concern to
Commissioner Hanley warrants further investigation with regard
to its accuracy; and mentioned that he is concerned about any
delay in adopting state education standards pertaining to
language - particularly those related to speaking and listening
skills - characterizing such as critical for Alaska's students.
He also expressed interest in having the proposed Task Force
include a representative from the university.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON concurred, opining that it should be
someone in the field of training future educators.
9:18:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON made a motion to adopt Conceptual
Amendment 1, to add to Section 2's subsection (c)(3), after
subparagraph (D), "a person from the university that was head of
the department that ... teaches the ... [prospective] teachers
of the state at the university."
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON objected for the purpose of discussion,
and asked whether Conceptual Amendment 1 would also change
subsection (c)(3) with regard to the total number of jointly-
appointed members, changing that total - on page 4, line 6 -
from "eight" to "nine".
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON said yes.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON removed his objection.
CHAIR DICK, noting that there were no further objections,
announced that Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.
9:20:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON moved to report the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HB 330, Version 27-LS1100\E, Mischel,
3/20/12, as amended, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHB 330(EDC) was reported from the House
Education Standing Committee.
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